The SA National Defence Force (SANDF) revealed on Tuesday that four further soldiers had been killed in fighting against M23 insurgents in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
“Following an exchange of mortar bombs between the FARDC, Congolese Defence Force and the M23 rebel militia on Monday, January 27, near Goma Airport where the SANDF Base is collocated, three members of the SANDF were caught in the crossfire and were killed,” the defence department said.
“The M23 rebels launched several mortar bombs in the direction of Goma Airport, which landed in the SANDF base, and this resulted in the SANDF losing three members,” it said.
“Furthermore, the SANDF is also saddened to announce that one of our members who was injured during the battle with M23 rebels over the past three days later succumbed to injuries.”
According to the department, the Level 3 Hospital in Goma is still providing medical care to the remaining injured members.
“The SANDF remains fully committed to its peacekeeping responsibilities under the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) and SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (SAMIDRC),” the department said. “Our troops continue to operate with resolve, courage, and discipline in pursuit of peace and stability in the region.”
This raises the death toll of South African soldiers in the Central African country to 13
According to the SANDF, it took note “with concern” of the social media footage that went viral and the “misleading claims” that it gave itself up to M23 rebels.
“We wish to set the record straight. The footage in question depicts a white flag raised, which is an outcome of discussions between the opposing fighting forces to agree on a truce to allow M23 to recover their dead and injured in the vicinity of our base,” it said. “This will also open the route for our troops to access medical facilities. This is common practice in any war. Let members of the public not be alarmed by a video clip and its meaning.”
A statement was released by the Minister of Defense and Military Veterans, Angie Motshekga, the Deputy Ministers of Defense and Military Veterans, Major-General (ret) Bantu Holomisa and Richard Hlophe, the Acting Secretary for Defense, Dr. Thobekile Gamede, and the Chief of the South African National Defense Force, General Rudzani Maphwanya, expressing their deepest sympathies to the affected families and the entire defense family.
To stop the rebel group from moving closer to Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu, the SANDF troops, who were stationed as part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), fought for two days.
After the rebels declared they had taken over Goma on Monday, SANDF spokeswoman Siphiwe Dlamini stated that South Africans serving in SADC peacekeepers stationed in the DRC were secure at their posts.
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